Stories of the Past: Sunday, October 14, 2001

October 13, 2001

50 years ago — Mas Nakadaira of Niland said he spotted a man wearing his suede jacket reported stolen last week. He said he and a friend, Jack Edminston, saw the man wearing his jacket in downtown Niland. Nakadaira and Edminston yanked the jacket off the man, but the thief got away.

40 years ago — A Brawley Union High School student placed second in his division at Bank of America Future Farmers of America field day in Chino. The youth, Bobby Laughrin, a freshman, was one of the 600 students from throughout California who took part in the event.

30 years ago — An estimated 227 full-time employees at the Anderson Clayton and Co. cotton gin in Mexicali announced they will strike in protest. Early this month company executives of one of the largest cotton handlers in the world announced that, due to the economic conditions, the border city plant will be closed.

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20 years ago — Two Southern Pacific railroad cars containing wheat that had been treated with a fumigant derailed late Tuesday near the crossing at B Street in Brawley. A railroad spokesman said today there was a minor damage to the cars — and there was no danger from the fumigant, Phostoxin, that had been used to treat the wheat while inside cars.